If Detroit suffers the same fate as New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey, it will raise some interesting questions.

The challenge for the Pistons is merely to shut down the vaunted Lakers' offense, win the franchise's third NBA title, and resurrect an entire style of play invariably linked to the Eastern Conference.

But few are convinced Detroit is up to the task.

"The games will be close," said one Western Conference scout. "But only because the number of possessions will be down. I just don't see any way the Lakers won't win even if they have to win ugly. With the players they have, they can play any style of basketball and I don't see any advantage that the Pistons have unless the Lakers beat themselves."